Film-feeding mechanism.



M. KLAIBER.

PILMTBEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. KLAIBER. FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 1911.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

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3141mm toz M. KLAIBER.

FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION PILLD MAR. 24, 1909.

Patente Apr. 4-, 19M.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

762, 1", gvwenfoz 351 /42 Gama 21 W L witnesses M. KLAIBER. FILM FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 24, 1909.

5 ,473, Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I 351 h aHoz-nu UNITED STATES PATENT orFrCE.

maxrnzrmnn KLAI'BER, or new YORK,'N. Y., assrenon'ro AMERICAN Broscorn COMPANY, or BROOKLYN, new-203K, a conronerron or new 'YonK.

FILM-FEEDING MECHANIS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed March 24, 1909. Serial-No. 485,391. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAXIMILIAN KLAIBER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident,

Improvements in Film-Feeding Mechanism,

of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to film feeding apparatus, especially for use in cameras and picture projectin apparatus where a continuous strip of film is used.

The film heretofore used hasbeen perforated along the longitudinal edges. Such a film has been objectionable because the teeth of the mechanism which feeds the film through the camera or through theexhibiting apparatus tears or strips the film, and it has been objectionable for other reasons well known to those acquainted with the art;

One of the objects of my invention is to provide suitable means for feeding unperforated filmand to drive said means in some cases intermittently and in other cases continuously.

Another object is to provide improved means for guiding the unperforated film and holding the same in proper position behind the photographic lens.

Another object is to so-mount, support,

assemble and adjust the various parts of the machine as. to make the same easily accessible for the purpose of cleaning, adjusting, repairing and also for the purpose of changing the film;

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter description. The invention is specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification. I

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the intermittent film feeding mechanism, this-view showing the rear door .for holding the film iii-place, open. Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a pair of gri pers in the position of gripping the unper orated film; Fig. 4 is a trans verse sectional view of one of the grippers taken on line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailed view of means for mounting and adjusting the sprocket wheels; Fig. 6 1s a rear view of the hinged clamp or door for holding the film in place behind the lens; Fig. 7 is a secfully disclosed by this tional view thereof on a larger scale on line- 6 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view of, the casing with a side removed, showing the relative location of all parts of the-apparatus applied to a' camera; Fig. 9 is a detailed view of one form of guide or track for controll ng the grippers; Fig. 10 isa side elevation of a continuous moving means for gripping and feeding the film; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a pair ofgrippers shown in Fig. 10, said view also showing the-relative'location of thegrlppers, trackand the frame; Fig. 12 is a detailed face view of one of the grippers withv the ends of the chains connected thereto.

The intermittent driven mechanism for feeding the film will first be described.

In the several views the same reference characters designate the same part.

The part marked 1 represents two side frames, which. are suitably connected together, and which form the support for the various parts of the driving mechanism.

2 are rotatably mounted sprocket wheels,

there being four in the machine, but one being omitted in Fig. 1 for clearncss in illustration. These sprocket wheels may be mounted on shafts extending from one side of the frame to another, but for the purpose of laterally adjusting the sprocket chains which aredriven by said wheels, I prefer to mount the two upper sprocket wheels onstuds 3, which are screw-threaded through bosses formed on the inside ofthe frame 1. The inner'ends of these studs are pointed and project into recesses in the hub 4 ofeach of said sprocket wheels and form pivots on which the wheels rotate.

5 are nuts for locking the studs in positionafter the chain has been properly adjusted laterallyJ This'manner of mounting the sprocket wheels also makes it easier to place and replace the chain. Driven by the sprocket wheels are the endless sprocket chains 6 and 7, every other link of which consists of grippers 8 and 9. Those forming part of the chain Gare marked 8, and those forming part of chain 7 are marked 9. These grippers are alike in construction,

with the exception hcreinbclow stated.

The grippers on the two chains are so arranged in pairs that one gripper on one a block 11 having an outside convex face 12 and on the opposite side projecting lugs 11". The convex or outer surface is slightly depressed in the center, so as to leave two gripping surfaces 13 at the edges of the blocks. These gripping surfaces may be milled or formed with sharp points or projections to grip and hold the film during the operation of feeding the same. The lugs 11* are each provided with apertures 1%, through which pass pins 15 which connect together the gripper blocks and the links forming the chains 6 and 7. In this construction each chain consists alternately of a gripper and a pair of chain links. The ends ofthe links or the chain between the lugs 11 are spaced by short sleeves 18. Secured to each end of these pins are rollers 16. [is hereto-fore stated, the grippers are alike, with the exception. that those marked 8 and forming part of the chain (3 are wider than the grippers 9 forming part of chain 7, and the grippers S are provided with outwardly extending projections or lugs 19 so that when the said grippers meet in grippin the film the gripper 9 will be inside of gripper 8, with the film gripped between the milled or roughened meeting edges or surtaces 13. During the gripping operation 01" the film, the rollers 16 travel on the straight track shown in dotted line in Fig. 1 and detailed in Fig. 8, and hold the gripping surfaces 18 of the gripper in operative contact with the edges of the film. The tracks 20 are carried by the supports 21, which extend from side frame to side frame inside the same and serve to hold the frames together. Each support is provided with lugs 22, by which they are fastened to the side frame by screws or bolts 23. To take up and compensate for any unevenness or inaccuracy in the construction and running of the chains and grippers, and to hold the grippers firmly against the film andto compensate for any unevenness in the film, resilient material 24 may be placed between the tracks 20 and the support 21. When this is done the tracks are secured to the supports by bolts 25, which pass loosely through the material and the said supports. This resilient material may he a sheet of rubber or the like, or a coiled spring may he placed around each bolt.

The grippers are intermittently driven by tollowing mechanism: Each of the two lower sprocket wheels constructed with the shafts 26 and 2'? on one side, which extend through the frame on that side, the l r side of the sprocket oeing mounted the adjusting stud 3 and locking nut 5 the manner hereinaheve described. Seed to these shafts outside of the as are the 528, which mesh with on oti er. occurred to Le shaft :2? outside said the ii ieva stop driven .meet withthe angle pieces 426. if

by the pin 30, which projects from the inner face of the disk 31 and engages in the notches 33 of the stop 29. Projectin from the inner face of this disk is a partial ring 32 for locking the Geneva stop 29. The disk 31 is secured to the shaft 3%, which extends through ooth sides of the frame, and a balance wheel 31 may be secured to the shaft 34 adjacent to the stop mechanism. Un the opposite end of this shaft and outsideof the frame of the machine is secured a pinion 35, which is driven from the gear 36 through the pinion 37 and gear 38 mounted. on studs secured to the side of the frame. The ear 36 may be operated hy a crank 39, or it may he driven'hy a motor.

The gears and Geneva movement are so constructed and proportioned that :t'or revolution of gear 36 the pinion and 31 carried thereby makes siateen revolutic and for each revolution disk 31 the neva stop 29 is moved one-sixth of a revolution. The pin on the disk 31 and the slots 33 in the step 29 are so arranged and located that the pin enters the slot in the are of a circle, and at first transmits no move ment to the stop. Before it reaches the bottom of the slot a slow movement is given to the stop from the time it starts to leave the bottom of the slot and until leaving the slot it gives a very rapid motion to the stop, and as the film is at all times engaged by one or more of the grippers it is fed quickly through the space of one picture when the Geneva stop is moved and at other times the film is at rest.

Secured to each side frame 1 is a support 40, to which is secured a plate 41, having an opening 42 therein. Secured to the rear of this plate adjacent to the opening are the two vertical angle pieces i8, forming guides for the film. On one of the uprights i0 is pivoted at 4 1 a plate or door 45, having an opening 46 therein registering with the opening 42. A headed stud 1 7 is secured to the rear of the plate 41, and projects through an opening 56 in the door when the door is closed. The door carries slide 48, forming a latch to hold the door closed. This slide is guided by a pin 49 and screw 50, and is operated hy the knob 51. The lower end of the slide is provided with a recess and notch 51, forming two fin ers which take under the head of the stud at? Carried by the door and on the inst thereof strips 52, which n to iccured these strips are studs 53, which project through openings in the door.

54; are coil and which against the film when (loo 1 the slide 58 or by any other well-known means. The rear of this shutter is covered with a soft-facing or packing 59 to prevent the leaka e of light. The shutter is pivoted on a st-u 60,- and carries a bevel gear, 61, which meshes with another bevel gear 63 mounted on a vertical shaft 62, the upper end of the shaft being secured in the stud 60,

which forms a bearing for this end of the shaft. The lower end of this shaft is supported in a bracket 64 secured tothe side of the frame and carries the bevel gear 65, which meshes with and is driven by bevel gear 67, secured to gear 66 mounted on the stud 68. The gear 66 meshes with and is driven from the gear 28. The gears are so. proportioned that for each one sixth of the revolution .of the sprocket wheels the shutter I makes a complete revolution.

In Fig, 8 is shown'the relative location of the different parts of the apparatus applied to a camera. The above described feeding mechanism is mounted in the camera casing proper 69, which carries the usual lens 70.

Below the lens is a platform 71 mounted on arm 7 2, secured to the front of the machine,

said platform being provided to protect the front part of the driving mechanism. To the camera proper is secured the box 73, in which is mounted the supply spool of film 7 5. Below the camera proper is secured a similar box 74, in which is mounted the take-up spool 76, on which the film is wound after being exposed. This take-up spool may be driven from the shaft 34 by means of sprocket wheels 77 and sprocket chain 78. The supply of fresh film is carried by the spool 7 5. The end of the film passes through the opening 81'in the top of the camera and in the bottom of the spool box- 7'3, and then between the angles 43 back of the opening 42 in the plate 41 down between the grippers of the lens of the feeding mechanism through the opening or slot 82 in the bottom of the camera and the casing 74: 'to the take-up rollf76, where the end is secured. 'The door 45 is then'closed and fastened with the strips 52 yieldingly bearing against the edges of the film at the rear to hold the film in position back of the opening'12. .When the-feeding mechanism is operated the film by the means hereinbefore described is intermittently and quickly pulled down or changed-by the grippers during the period of rest of the film. Theopenin '58 in the shutter passes back %0, uncovering the same, whereupon that portion of the film is exposed; as

itself is intermittently moved. In said construction, I mount four sprocket wheels 83 on shafts or studs 84. -These sprocket wheels have the same number of teeth as sprocket wheels. 2,,except that the teeth are spaced farther apart. On one of the shafts 84 I secure a gear 85, which is continuously driven, through the chain of gears and pinions 86, 87 88, 89 and 90, by hand or by a motor. The take-up roll of the film, may be driven in the same manner as in the construction hereinabove describedand the two lower sprocket wheels are connected to be uniformly drivenby intermediate gears like 28, not shown in Fig. 10. The sprocket wheels drive the two endless chains 91, 92,

each ofwhich carries grippers, 93 and 94.

Each gripper is provided with lugs, to which the links of the chain are connected. These grippers are of different construction than those in the feeding mechanism herein: above described and will now be described; the gripper 94: is provided with a narrow convex grippin surface 96 at the ends thereof and carries the rollers 97' on the rear side. The other gripper 93 is provided with two slides 98, each of which has a concave gripping .surface'99 whichco-acts with the convex surface 96. These gripping surfaces may be furnished or provided with pointed projections to grip and hold the film during the operation of feeding'the same. These slides are provided with inwardly projecting lugs 100 and between the lugs and the rear face of the body of they gripper are placed springs 101, which tend to force the slides to the rear or away from the face of the gripper 94:, and this rear or outward movement is limited by stops, which may be pins or screws 100.. To each slide is mount- "ed a roller, 102. The rollers 97 of the opposite gripper move on a straight track 103, while the rollers 102 run on the uneven or cam track 104,. the part marked 106 indieating the cam .or raised portion of that track. The tracks are mounted on supports 105, which extend from one side frame to the other.

In operation both the sprocket chains 91 and'92 are continuously driven, and rollers 97 on the grippers 98 move along the track 103 in a straight line, and the rollers 102 on the other grippers move alongthe cam track 104i. Normally, the spring 101 forces the slides 98 away from the gripping faces of the grippers 94. When the rollers 102 come in contact with the cam or raised portion of the track 106, the slides 98 are forced'toward the gripping faces of the gripper 96 against the tension of the said springs, and if the film 10 is in proper position the gripping faces 'of 'the slides 98 will engage the film and hold it tightly between the gripping faces or surfaces of the grippers, and so long as'the rollers 102 are traveling on the raised 10. In a deviceof the class described, a pair of sprocket wheels having an endless chain carried thereby,grippers carried by the said chain havingrollers thereon, a straight track on which said rollers run, another pair of sprocket wheels, 'an endless sprocket chain carried thereby, grippers secured to said sprocket chain, sald grippers having slides having gripping surfaces which co-act with the grippin surfaces of the first grippers, and means or moving the slides away from the gripping surface of the said first mentloned grippers, rollers on said slides, a track on which said rollers move, said track having a raised portion thereon which forces the slides toward the first mentioned grippers, and means for moving said chains.

11. A film feed mechanism comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely-located endless members between which the film is arranged to pass; means for driving the same; gripping devices carried by said members; and means for moving said devices toward each other and into engagement with the film.

r 12. A film-feed mechanism comprising, in combination, a palr of oppositely-located endless members between which the film is arranged to pass; means for driving the same; correspondingly-located gripping de vices carried by said members; and means for moving said devices toward each other at a predetermined point in their travel, to grip the film.

13. In a film-feed mechanism, the combination of a frame; film-conveying members arranged for movement therethrough; and

means arranged within the frame for exerting alateral pressure upon said members for holding the same in engagement with the-film. 1

Li. In a film-feed mechanism, the combination of a pair of oppositely-located movable members between which the film is arranged to pass; means for driving the same; and blocks carried by said members and arranged to grip and feed the film when said members are in motion, said blocks having their working faces roughened.

15. A film feeding mechanism comprising a I pair of oppositely located movable members between which the film passes, means for drivin said members 'ri in devices carried by said members, and a track located adjacent to one of said members and arranged for engagement with the devices on said member during a portion of the travel of the latter and for guiding said devices toward and into engagement with the film.

V 116. In a film feeding mechanism, a pair 

